I make all the changes in the bios and then press f10 and exit. When I open up cpuz it still says running at stock 2.83ghz. I am using the same motherboard that I overclocked my Q6600 to 3.2ghz stable for months. My system specs are as follows:

Intel Q9550 C1 stepping
Gigabyte x38 ds5 f6 bios
4 Gigs ocz platinum ddr2 800
Gigabyte 9800gt zalman edition
Ocz hx620 psu

any tips would be much appreciated. I am not sure it just seems like the fsb is locked.

Fill in your settings:

MB Intelligent Tweaker (MIT)
Robust Graphics Booster:
CPU Clock Ratio:
CPU Host Clock Control:
CPU Host Frequency(Mhz) :
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) :
C.I.A.2:
Performance Enhance :
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)
Memory Frequency(Mhz):
DRAM Timing Selectable :
Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time: :
DRAM RAS# to CAS# :
DRAM RAS# Precharge :
Precharge Delay(tRAS) :
Advanced Timing Control
ACT to ACT Delay(tRRD) :
Rank Write to READ Delay :
Write To Precharge Delay :
Refresh to ACT Delay :
Read To Precharge Delay :
tRD :
tRD Phase Adjustment :
Command to #CS Timing: :
Clock Driving and Skew Control
CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control :
CPU Clock Skew Control : Normal
(G)MCH Clock Skew Control : Normal
System Voltage Control
DDR2 OverVoltage Control :
PCI-E OverVoltage Control :
FSB OverVoltage Control :
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control :
MCH Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Termination Voltage Control : Normal
CPU GTLREF1 Voltage* :
CPU GTLREF2 Voltage* :
CPU Voltage Control :
Normal CPU Vcore :

Advanced Bios Features
CPU Multi-Threading
Limit CPUID Max to 3
No-Execute Memory Protect
CPU Enhanced Halt(CIE)
CPU Thermal Monitor 2
CPU EIST Function
Virtuaalization Technology

I will go back thru and fill in all of my settings, I basically used all the same settings as I did when oc my Q6600 except changing the cpu voltage of course. I set my cpu vcore to 1.2375. I am running my ram in 1/1 ratio so it would be running at 800mhz the stock settings of the ram. sorry it took me a few days to reply I have been out of town on work.

MB Intelligent Tweaker (MIT)
Robust Graphics Booster: auto
CPU Clock_rate Ratio: 8.5
CPU Host Clock Control: enabled
CPU Host Frequency(Mhz) :400
PCI Express frequency- auto
C.I.A.2: disabled
Performance Enhance : stock
System Memory Multiplier 2.0d
Memory Frequency(Mhz): 800mhz
DRAM Timing Selectable : manual
Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency: 5 4 5 15 all other ram settings on auto
DRAM RAS# to CAS# :
DRAM RAS# Precharge :
Precharge Delay(tRAS) :
Advanced Timing Control
ACT to ACT Delay(tRRD) :
Rank Write to READ Delay :
Write To Precharge Delay :
Refresh to ACT Delay :
Read To Precharge Delay :
tRD :
tRD Phase Adjustment :
Command to #CS Timing: : 2t
Clock Driving and Skew Control - normal
CPU/PCIEX Clock Driving Control : 800mv
CPU Clock Skew Control : Normal
(G)MCH Control : Normal
System Voltage Control
DDR2 voltage_ normal
PCI-E OverVoltage Control : normal
FSB OverVoltage Control : normal
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control : normal
MCH Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Termination Voltage Control : Normal
CPU GTLREF1 Voltage* :
CPU GTLREF2 Voltage* :
CPU Voltage Control : 1.25
Normal CPU Vcore : 1.2375

Advanced Bios Features
CPU Multi-Threading
Limit CPUID Max to 3 - disabled
No-Execute Memory Protect - disabled
CPU Enhanced Halt(CIE) disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor 2 enabled
CPU EIST Function disabled
Virtuaalization Technology disabled

I can boot into windows fine and everythings seems to be alright but when i open up cpuz it still says running at stock speed. When i restart and go back into the bios it still has all my settings from the overclock, for some reason it will not register my increased fsb speed. Please give me some advice getting very frustrated. Is it possible I have a locked front side bus?

Read the sticky in o/c forum:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] uals-guide

x38-DS5 is an underrated mobo. Its vdroop is non-existent or minimal. On top of that, the vdimm defaults to v1.925 as opposed to v1.8. So trying each stick of high-voltage ram in each slot to get the board to post may not be necessary. Those are what overclockers are looking for in a mobo.

"CPU Host Clock Control: enabled" unlocks the FSB so you can put anything in FSB.

How many sticks of ram are installed? If 2, vdimm may be ok at stock. If 4, vdimm needs to be higher. +0.30v is a good start.

DDR2 voltage_ normal : see above
PCI-E OverVoltage Control : normal
FSB OverVoltage Control : +0.15v
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control : normal
MCH Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Reference Voltage Control : Normal
DDR Termination Voltage Control : Normal
CPU Voltage Control : 1.25v+

You will need to bump the vcore up to 1.45v gradually. The cpu cooler determines how high the vcore can be. Stock cooler will be very limiting. If you want to be safe, keep it no higher than 1.3625V.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/d [...] Spec=SLAWQ

I don't think it can hit 3.4ghz at that low voltage. Start out from 333mhz fsb and up it by 50mhz. Do memtest 1 pass. If it errors out, bump vcore up & redo memtest.

http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

When you hit the highest stable o/c, boot up windows & do orthos x2 for 8 hours:

http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=200

Thanks for the advice, but this is not the first time I have overclocked. I have 2 sticks of ram and running a zalman 9700led cooler. I think that vcore is quite high for a 45nm chip heh? I was running my Q6600 at 3.2ghz with a vcore of 1.3v. I am using all the same equipment except for the Q9550.

Clear your BIOS by jumper if you haven't already. Once clear redo your overclock. Maybe this is what you need. I've come across this when I swap CPUs. Maybe it will help.